CASE STUDIESAt Vital Points Therapy, We know that: Pain is a symptom. Symptoms have multiple causes. The body is a self correcting mechanism. Integrating various techniques provides more avenues to healthy living. We are dedicated to appropriate treatments. We are dedicated to educating you in order to help yourself. We work with your primary health care provider. We provide the best service available. |
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CASE STUDIES / Autism Subject: Autism Assessment: SM had Autism with severe fight or flight reactions to various stimuli. SM would run, hit, kick, scream and cry in reaction to these normally innocuous stimuli. Her safety and ability to tolerate the world was severely limiting her ability to interact with her family. Developmental milestones for motor skills were limited, social emotional interactions were limited, and her ability to judge situations for safety was severely limited. Strengths for SM were that she had a dedicated family that was very supportive. SM was also able to make eye contact, had speech skills, and was extremely bright. Diet was limited at first due to her selection of foods that were acceptable. Palpation: SM had several areas that were indicated as areas of concern. Her cranial system were extremely tight, the dural membranes and cranial bones have a normal physiological motion that was severely limited. This improved as treatment progressed. Mobility: Soft tissue assessment indicated limitations in the liver, small and large intestine mobility. Motility: limitations of the liver, dural tube, and kidney were evident by testing. Treatments: Weekly routines were established to limit uncertainty. Sensory integration and the deep pressure program were implemented. She was not able to go into an open area due to the fight or flight reactions and the safety of herself and other children. She had poor awareness of her body and where it was in space. In order to plan how to move the parts to climb or balance, SM received manual therapy, visceral and integrative therapy to address the area of greatest concern each week. Progress: SM began to exhibit calming faster between upsets. Desensitizing to the door by entering or leaving the room throughout the session was implemented by the therapist. Her diet improved and mom was able to add nutritional supplements to improve detoxification of metals and anti-oxidants. SM began to show an interest in her sister and other children. She would have relapses of intense fight or flight but was able to verbalize emotions. SM learned vocabulary to describe facial expressions but not yet internalize the word for emotions that she herself might feel. As SM progressed, she learned to read and take turns in some simple games. She would learn about varying situations and flexibility. As the sensory integration treatments progressed, SM developed improved awareness, reacting to pain in a more normal way. She was beginning to feel the normal pains when she got hurt. This was the beginning of developing safety awareness and empathy for other’s pain, a crucial step in social-emotional development. SM was able to improve in her motor skills, enjoying baseball with a t-stand, climbing and throwing as other children her age. She has made excellent progress in all areas treated. Parent’s Comments: SM was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in March 2004, before which she was referred for occupational and speech therapy by her pediatrician. SM had moderate to severe sensory issues, including but not limited to, an aversion to getting messy, sound sensitivities, and assorted anxieties, some of which interfered with her daily life. We could not take SM out in public in most situations, because she had severe anxiety about doors; any time a door opened or closed, she suffered severe breakdowns and tantrums with up to an hour of recovery time. SM was very non-compliant and had strong “fight-or-flight” tendencies. When faced with non-preferred activities, she would typically hit or kick, rather than verbalize her feelings. SM also had a very difficult time in flexibility with play; she played the same way, placing objects in the same order each time, and would not allow outside distraction or sharing in play activity. SM also was not aware of her body in space. She was frightful and overly cautious with swing, climbing, and jumping. She would not swing, could not climb simple ladder or rock walls; she did not know where to place her feet or how to move her hands in order. As for SM’s play and body awareness in space, SM is now fully capable of climbing up and down ladder with no assistance and climbing both a vertical and inclined rock wall. She knows where her feet are and where to place her hands and in what order. Swinging is not her favorite, but she will swing and spin and bounce, which helps to focus her. Her balance has improved. –KM (Mom) |
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CASE STUDIES / Facial AsymmetrySubject: Facial Asymmetry Patient came to therapy due to shoulder pain from repetitive movements. He is an aspiring percussionist. Recently arrived from the East Coast, he developed a pain in the right shoulder with a noticeable “catch” in his movements. He came to therapy over a course of one and a half years, attending every other month. His total visits were 7 treatments spaced over about 16 months. Postural assessment: Patient’s posture was kyphotic and his shoulders were pronated. The joints had increased laxity. His head was rotated to the right and slightly right side bend at 15 degree. His chest and sternal area was concaved, and his right hip was elevated. Patient’s gaze was predominantly from the left eye. Facial asymmetry was evident with the sphenoid Load Test: Patient’s greatest area of stress was at the right first ribs attachments of the scalene muscles. Palpation: Further palpation of the area lead to distal tensions from the diaphragm and liver area. Further complications of the ribcage indicated poor respiration and range of motion of the scapula. All of which correlated with the complaints of the limitations in functions by the patient. Mobility: Testing of the mobility of the ribcage indicated intra-costal muscular spasms and limitations in range of motion. The mediastinal, pleural perineum and the diaphragm had multiple sites of adhesions. Assessment summary: Patient appeared to have adhesions in the soft tissues to the rib cage and sternal bones, limiting the motion of respiration, shoulder movements and head/neck posture. He may have become accustomed to the abnormal posture of his head and compensated with visual dominance. Patient’s comments: “Picture #2, My smile and face overall is more even. I no longer clench my jaw, and my face is more relaxed altogether. I now naturally face straight ahead as my body is more centered. Mentally, I am more focused, less distractible, and have an easier time concentrating. After approximately 7 treatments, I have found that I stand more balanced, can breathe easier, and have more energy than ever before. “My body has evened out from head to toe. My upper body now expands and contracts the way it was intended to, making my breathing deep and effortless.” |
Picture taken prior to treatment, November 2004.
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CASE STUDIES / Spinal ScoliosisSubject: Spinal Scoliosis Postural assessment: shoulder elevated on the left, scoliosis to the right approximately 30 degree deviation, left hips elevated, right scapula protracted, and weight bearing on the right leg predominately. Load Test: indicated mid thoracic level of the diaphragm and liver junction was the area of greatest stress. Palpation: several soft tissue areas indicated poor mobility and limited range of motion, diaphragm on the right, spinal segments of T10-12, mediastinal and lungs on the right, and large intestine at the hepato-colic ligaments. Mobility: Sacral-iliac mobility severely limited in the posterior pelvis, ribs lacked mobility throughout the thoracic, liver mobility limited in inferior and medial/lateral motions, diaphragm had minimal excursion for in-breath. Motility: Movement within the soft tissue of the liver, lungs, and connective tissue were limited. The most severe were the diaphragm at the mediastinal junction of the coronary ligaments. Assessment summery: Patient exhibited limitations in the normal physiological functions of the soft connective tissues that lead to mobility of the ribs, hips and spine. This is consistent with a severe blunt trauma to the ischial ramus at an early age (pre-puberty). The trauma traveled along the Deep Front Lines of Meyer’s anatomy trains, causing soft tissue disruptions of membranes (DOM) along the horizontal connective tissues, notably, pelvic floor, liver, diaphragm, and mediastinal. Osteopathic principle of “the body hugging the lesion” leads to the possibility that the body would protect the most vital of the organs by sealing the disruptions of membranes in what ever ways it can, rotating and side-bending to limit exposure to further damage. In explaining this to the patient, she had reported of exactly that kind of trauma at the age of 12. She and a cousin were exploring an old barn. At the second floor, on the loft, the floor collapse from under her and she fell through to the floor below right on her bottom. She recalled not being able to move for a while, but got up and resumed her life. She was diagnosed with scoliosis in high school. As she got older, the limitation in breathing and general discomfort was increasing, which lead her to seek therapy. Treatment: Patient was treated for one hour using manual techniques and acupressure. Results were surprising when compared to the posture prior to treatment. Improvements in symmetry of the hips, shoulders, and spinal column were evident. Patient reported immediate motility of the large intestine, breathing ease, and improved range of motion in her ribs and spine. Patient’s comments: Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Not a guarantee or warranty of results implied as a result of treatments |
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CASE STUDIES / Facial Rejuvenation Subject: Facial Rejuvenation Brings out your innate beauty and radiance and reduces the evidence of stress. Appearance is both a personal and a public accessory that is being enhanced by Botox, creams, and surgical procedures. The options are endless for women and men who want to preserve the youthful appearance of someone in the height of vitality. Creams, chemical peels, nips and tucks all have costs and side effects that must be evaluated. One of the most effective and cost efficient options is Acupuncture facial rejuvenation. Few women today know that since ancient times, Traditional Chinese Medicine has addressed the beauty Standards of beauty in Asian culture included the cultivation of spirit or "Shen," skills in art, music, and practice of spirituality. Integral to beauty is being healthy as the meridians of Acupuncture flowed through the face. Imbalance of Yin and Yang can be seen in the face as dry skin, dull complexion, and redness or breakouts. Various areas of the face correlate with the vitality of organ systems and will show if they are out of balance. Gravitational, intrinsic and photo-aging are symptoms of the skin not being able to replicate and restore damage at the cellular level. Connective tissues become lined and creased from habitual expressions, loss of elasticity and collagen resulting in lines, crow’s feet, dry skin and aging. Chinese medicine, with the history of seeking longevity, addressed these problems using acupuncture and herbal support. What you can expect from Facial Rejuvenation:
Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Not a guarantee or warranty of results implied as a result of treatments |
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